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actory worker Rusminah, 39, struggled to keep up in the rally to mark the International Workers’ Day, or May Day, that went smoothly and peacefully on Tuesday.

“It’s tiring because I’m no longer young. But I want to be among my fellow workers to fight for our rights. This kind of demonstration benefits us workers,” said the single mother.

Rusminah, who has been working for 16 years in a garment factory in Cakung, East Jakarta, said that it was her fifth time to join the annual rally and that every time she saw some improvement in workers’ welfare. After last year’s rally, she said, the company finally agreed to provide health allowances for the workers.

The policy change in her factory was an example of workers’ victories over their employers, despite concerns from several corners that the tendency to seek solutions to manpower issues on the streets could be easily turned into a political commodity, which would take a toll on investment in Indonesia.

Earlier this year, the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) had to yield to workers’ demands in Bekasi and Tangerang over a revision to a bylaw on minimum-wage increases after their protest actions blocked the roads.

Workers also contributed to last month’s delay of the government’s plan to increase the price of subsidized fuel by joining massive rallies in the capital city.

On Tuesday’s May Day commemoration, again, workers from across Greater Jakarta pushed for further change.

The joint forces of several major labor unions, like the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers’ Unions (KSPSI), the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperity Trade Unions (KSBSI) and the Confederation of Indonesian Workers’ Unions (KSPI), demanded that, among other things, the government ban factories from outsourcing workers and allocate around Rp 14 trillion (US$1.52 billion) in its budget for their welfare.

“We workers demand our rights. We pay taxes worth nearly Rp 200 trillion per year to the government. Now, we want the government to subsidize us, just like it does for farmers, fishermen and impoverished people,” said KSPI chairman Said Iqbal.

In their Indonesian Workers’ Manifesto, they also sought a halt to union busting and better protection for migrant workers.

Around 100,000 workers flocked to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle before marching toward the Presidential Palace. Later in the afternoon, they gathered at the Gelora Bung Karno sports hall to declare the establishment of the Indonesian Workers’ Assembly (MPBI) and to read out the manifesto.

At the sports hall, they commemorated May Day in a ceremony attended by several celebrities, including members of famous local rock band, Slank. The rally caused traffic congestion on the city’s main thoroughfares, forcing Transjakarta’s management to temporarily stop or detour services along Corridors 1 and 2.

Tangerang workers held a rally, attempting to block the main access from the municipality to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Jl. Marsekal Surya Dharma, but were foiled by police.

The demonstrators later hurled stones to passing cars on the road.

“Our main concern is for the government to scrap the manpower outsourcing system and to declare May Day a national holiday,” said Yatno, one of the protesting workers. (riz/sat)

Multa Fidrus from Tangerang contributed to the reporting